UNC tuition hike approved

The UNC Board of Trustees approved a 6.5 percent tuition hike Thursday to dampen expected cuts by the Legislature.

UNC Chapel Hill says it has to cut $54 million out of their budget.

The increase will take effect next fall.

The hike will raise undergraduate in-state tuition and fees by $360 to about $7,000 per year. Out-of-state rates could be $1,570 higher.

Last week, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Bruce Carney said they are trying to find every source of revenue and cut costs every way they can.

Carney also said layoffs are inevitable, but they're very reluctant to cut professors and management.

The 6.5 percent is the most a University of North Carolina campus can seek for in-state rates. Lawmakers could allow higher rates as they did this year, when UNC-Chapel Hill in-state tuition rose $950.